A former police officer is suing several Minnesota law enforcement agencies, officers, cities, commissioners of the state Department of Public Safety, and dozens of others, accusing them of breaking the law by looking up her personal information hundreds of times.
ST. PAUL, Minn. -
A former police officer who accuses other law-enforcement officials of accessing her driver's-license information has reached tentative settlements.
Anne Marie Rasmusson, who worked for Eden Prairie and St. Paul, is poised to get about $665,000 in settlements from St. Paul and other municipalities.
She claims more than 140 officers looked at her license data hundreds of times between 2005 and 2012. Rasmusson said that means officers who took interest in her after her divorce and dramatic weight loss often knew her address or what kind of car she drove.
Rasmusson claimed that officers across the state began to develop an "uncomfortable interest" in her starting in 2007, which is when she began training for a body-sculpting competition.
In the $385,000 proposed settlement with St. Paul, the city doesn't admit wrongdoing but agreed to remove much of her information from some records.
A total of 61 St. Paul officers were accused of accessing her records 228 times. The city explained that it decided to settle because they risked paying a $2,500 fine for each offense.
Attorney Jon Iverson, who represents 16 other cities, says they've agreed to settle for $280,000.
A settlement with the city of Minneapolis is expected later this month.
Federal law protects the public from these types of abuses, but Rasmusson's attorneys say the practice will continue unless the individual departments change their policies.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:08:13 GMT
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers. Edwin Vargas was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Bronxville.
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:39:13 GMT
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven.
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven. Beginning with the 3:07 p.m. departure from Grand Central Terminal, Metro-North will operate about half of the regular eastbound PM peak service and regular hourly westbound service with the 4:23 PM train from New Haven. Repair work on tracks that were damaged in last week's train collision has progressed quickly, says the MTA.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:33 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:33:20 GMT
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:23:53 GMT
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:51 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:51:26 GMT
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company.
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company. The American Guild of Musical Artists said the eight remaining dancers of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet have accepted buyout packages.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:06 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:06:47 GMT
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
